Ann Arbor voters will see four candidates on the mayoral ballot in August, when they’ll determine the Democratic nominee for the office. With no Republican contenders, that means the primary on Aug. 5 is likely to determine the city’s top elected official for the next four years.

The city is fortunate to have four credible candidates in this race. All are City Council members who serve their constituencies well and bring a range of talents – even as each differs individually - to their existing roles. They also each offer compelling reasons for voters to select them as mayor.

The candidates and their strengths:

Sabra Briere, Ward 1: Her biggest strength is her deep understanding of the city, its people and its issues. She researches and works with various groups, and if she doesn’t understand a topic, she finds the answers. She’s capable of navigating politics to find productive compromise, a valuable trait as council dynamics shifted.

Sally Hart Petersen, Ward 2: Her business background provides a valuable filter for her decision-making and a framework for her campaign. She wants the city to be able to articulate an economic development strategy, and then look for policy decisions that complement it. She weighs all options and has been a swing vote.

Stephen Kunselman, Ward 3: He joined council as an outsider and maintains a voice of opposition and scrutiny. That’s been welcome in a city that often saw lopsided votes, as his evaluation of the city and its systems helps generate more balanced discussion as officials weighed policy decisions.

Christopher Taylor, Ward 3: He expresses satisfaction with the quality of life in the city and concerns about maintaining the historic character of the city, yet prioritizes the need to provide core city services – like public safety and maintaining streets and infrastructure. He stresses what is needed today while maintaining a vision the city will need for success in years to come, balancing present and future.

As we weighed each candidate following interviews, we believe Taylor will best represent the overall interests of the city as mayor. He balances the view of downtown as an economic driver with a concern for the city’s neighborhoods, and we’ve seen his judgment in action on development-themed votes that we support, such as declining the Edwards Brothers land purchase vote and approving 413 E. Huron, both of which could have put the city at risk. He’s an advocate for moderate growth and effectively states the city’s shortcomings, such as roads, and concerns – like the spread of the Gelman plume.

While we believe Taylor is the best choice in this vote, we also want to acknowledge that he’s been a strong ally of Mayor John Hieftje and needs to be ready to set his own course as mayor. The foundation of Taylor’s platform is the overall success of the city, and much of that reflects accomplishments during Hieftje’s tenure. We’d encourage Taylor to distinguish his time as mayor by not just staying today’s course. We’d look for him to willingly consider changes that maximize the city’s potential – particularly on the budget side – even if they challenge the status quo. Examples may be revisiting the pedestrian ordinance, public art funding or funding for the Downtown Development Authority.